A 42-year-old man who killed three people, including a former mayor of Reading, will spend the rest of his life in prison.

        Robert Cordell avoided a possible death sentence Tuesday by pleading guilty to the April murders of his former sister-in-law, Kathleen Cordell, and her neighbors, Rita Bushman and former Mayor Frank Carnevale.

        Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Steve Martin sentenced Mr. Cordell to 81 years to life in prison.

        Asked why he killed the three, Mr. Cordell said, “I have no idea why.”

        Marie George, a daughter of Mr. Carnevale and Ms. Bushman, tearfully told Judge Martin the family has suffered tremendously since the murder of her mother and father.

        She then told Mr. Cordell of the joys her parents have missed.

        “They missed the birth of their first great-grandchild ... and my daughter's wedding,” Mrs. George said. “Every day I picture you shooting my parents. ... I hope you think of shooting my parents every day in jail. My parents were good to you.”

        Judge Martin said Mr. Cordell has shown no remorse.

        “I hope you are never released from the state penitentiary,” the judge said. Under terms of his sentence, Mr. Cordell must serve at least 63 years.

        The bodies of Kathleen Cordell, 40; Ms. Bushman, 68; and her ex-husband, Mr. Carnevale, 72, were found inside their Bolser Drive homes on April 2. Authorities discovered Ms. Bushman and Mr. Carnevale shortly before 6:30 a.m. after the house was set on fire.

        They had been shot in the head and their home had been ransacked.

        Ms. Cordell's body was discovered later that day, after police questioned Mr. Cordell. He had occasionally lived with her.

        Investigators believe Mr. Cordell was angered when Mr. Carnevale refused to lend him a car and that he set the fire to cover up the shootings. They were unsure why he killed his sister-in-law.

        Mr. Cordell's attorneys, Perry Ancona and William Welsh, said their client felt fortunate he did not get a death sentence.

        E-mail mmccain@enquirer.com

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